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The Swift Current Oratorio Choir's annual festive season performance took place at the Zion Mennonite Church in Swift Current, Dec. 11. The same program of traditional Canadian folk songs and music by popular contemporary composers was also performed at the Centre Street United Church in Shaunavon, Dec. 9. The concert was titled A Canadian Christmas in recognition of the country's 150th birthday celebrations and the program included both Canadian compositions or arrangements of Christmas themed works by Canadian musicians. The choir was directed by Marcia McLean and the accompanists were Sheila Braun and Amy Wiens. The program included appearances by Prairie Spirit, a smaller auditioned choir, and a brass ensemble. The Swift Current Oratorio Choir has accepted a return invitation to participate in a mass choir performance at Carnegie Hall in New York on Jan. 21, 2019. The choir previously participated in this event in 2014. They will perform a new choral work by the Welsh composer, Sir Karl Jenkins. The Oratorio Choir will perform this same work in Swift Current in April 2019.

The Swift Current Pee Wee SWT Broncos hosted a 12-team hockey tournament at the Fairview Arena, Dec. 8-10. The Broncos had a great start when they defeated the Melfort Mustangs 7-4 on Friday afternoon, but the home team lost their second game that evening 4-1 against the Saskatoon Titans. On Saturday the Broncos secured a 4-3 win in overtime against the West Central Wheatkings in the B-side semi-final. On the last day of the tournament the Broncos suffered a big 8-3 loss against the Saskatoon Mission in the B-side final. The Saskatoon Titans scored an 8-5 victory against the Weyburn Y.F. Wings to win the A-side final.

The Swift Current Comprehensive High School Senior Ardens hosted basketball teams from across the province at their annual invitational tournament, Dec. 8-9. The Ardens lost a tough bronze medal game with three points against the Notre Dame Hounds to finish in fourth place. The home team started the eight-team tournament with a 64-46 victory against the Moose Jaw Vanier Spirits on Friday afternoon, but lost a crucial game the next morning, when they were defeated 59-44 by Prince Albert's St. Mary Marauders. The Ardens were in a tight fight against the Notre Dame Hounds in the bronze medal game. The Swift Current team was ahead 29-26 at halftime, and maintained a narrow lead until the fourth quarter, when the Hounds pushed past them to win 55-52. The St. Mary Marauders claimed the tournament title with a 52-43 win against the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings in the gold medal game.

Members of the Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD) chapter at Swift Current Comprehensive High School (SCCHS) held a traffic stop in association with the RCMP on Central Avenue North in Swift Current, Dec. 7. They handed out red ribbons, a symbol of opposition to drinking and driving, at the checkstop and asked motorists to drive safely during the festive season.

The Salvation Army flag is flying at City Hall in Swift Current this week in celebration of Salvation Army Week. Swift Current Mayor Denis Perrault and Major Don Grad of the Salvation Army in Swift Current raised the flag on Monday morning, Dec. 4. That evening the week of Dec. 3-9 was officially proclaimed as “Salvation Army Week – Giving Hope Today” at a regular council meeting. The Salvation Army's Christmas campaign in Swift Current is in full swing with a fundraising goal of $215,000. The funds raised during this campaign will stay in the community to provide food hampers to those who need some support during the festive season, and the funds will also be used to support various Salvation Army activities in the community throughout the year, including the community food bank and Monday evening community meals. Anyone interested in volunteering for a Christmas kettle shift can call Dolores at 306-741-1714 or the Salvation Army office at 306-778-0515 for more information about volunteer opportunities and ways to support the Christmas campaign.

A record number of teddy bears landed on the ice at the Swift Current Broncos Teddy Bear Toss Night, Dec. 2. The large crowd at the game against the Moose Jaw Warriors showed their generosity by covering the ice with teddy bears, toques and mittens after Tyler Steenbergen scored the home team's first goal on a power play in the second period. The Warriors have already scored three times during the first period, and their lead narrowed when Broncos captain Glenn Gawdin scored another power play goal in the second period. The Broncos outshot the visitors 10-6 in the third period, but were unable to score again and lost 3-2 to the Warriors. All the items from the teddy bear toss were donated to the Salvation Army's Christmas campaign in Swift Current. This year's event collected 1,012 teddy bears and other soft toys, as well as 396 hat and mitt/glove sets. The Salvation Army also received 275 pounds of food at the game, which will be used to fill Christmas Sunshine bags for distribution to long-term care centres in Swift Current and Herbert, as well as for Christmas hampers and the Salvation Army's Christmas Day meal gift table.

The first half of the Blenders 2017-18 concert series ended on a high note with a performance by Calgary singer-songwriter Michael Bernard Fitzgerald and Manitoba band The Middle Coast at the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current, Dec. 1. The Middle Coast set the mood with their easy-going 1970s-style yacht rock before returning to the stage as the backing band for Fitzgerald, who is currently on a western Canadian road trip. His music is a combination of soul, folk and pop influences that are delivered with the full sound of the entire band or quieter acoustic songs. After a brief hiatus the popular Blenders concert series will continue on Jan. 27 with a performance by the award-winning Kirby Sewell Band. For more information about upcoming Blenders concerts, visit the website www.blendersmusic.ca

The Swift Current Broncos hosted the first ever multicultural night at the Nov. 25 game against the Brandon Wheat Kings. This theme night, which was held in association with the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre and the Prairie Post, coincided with the celebration of Saskatchewan Multicultural Week from Nov. 18-26. Swift Current residents who came to Canada from across the world were on the ice for a brief ceremony and puck drop. The Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre had a table at the Broncos multicultural theme night, where people could enter a draw for a gift basket. People were able to show the place of origin of their ancestor by putting a pin on a world map. The Broncos suffered a 3-2 loss in overtime against the Wheat Kings. The Broncos lost only three of their last 10 games, and two of those losses were against the Brandon team. The previous night the Broncos won their game against the Raiders in Prince Albert. After the two weekend games the Swift Current team was second in the East Division with a 17-5-2-0 record.

Two visitors from the North Pole gave a helping hand to the Swift Current SPCA at the annual Santa Paws fundraiser, Nov. 25. Santa and Mrs Claus spend the afternoon at Cowtown to have their photos taken with a variety of pets. The fundraiser was an opportunity for pet owners to show their support for the animal shelter and to receive a unique souvenir print of their pets. The shelter's resources get stretched during the winter and there are different ways to support the Swift Current SPCA during the festive season. The 2018 SPCA pet calendars are on sale for $10 each at the animal shelter, the SPCA bookstore and selected businesses in the city. It will be Feed the Pets SPCA Night at the Dec. 16 Broncos game against the Kamloops Blazers. Hockey fans can make a monetary donation at the game or bring along pet food or cleaning supplies. The Swift Current SPCA 2017 holiday giving guide can now also be viewed on the shelter's website at http://spcaswiftcurrent.com. The guide gives an option to select a donation amount for a specific purpose, for example a $25 donation will feed a shelter pet for one month.

Record breaking mild weather attracted a very large crowd to downtown Swift Current for the annual Christmas tree lighting, Nov. 23. Families crowded into Market Square to watch the countdown for switching on the lights on the large Christmas tree at 7 p.m. Santa Claus and Mrs Claus arrived shortly afterwards in a fire truck. There was a long line-up of children who wanted to see Santa and each child received a treat bag after meeting him. The École Centennial School choir entertained the crowd with festive songs after the Christmas tree lighting. Horse wagon rides were a popular attraction at the event. The horses were provided by Lost Valley Horse Ranch, Pebble Ridge Percherons, and Prairie Percherons. A new temperature record of 13.2 degrees Celsius was set for Swift Current on this day. The old record of 11.7 degrees for Swift Current on Nov. 23 was set in 1890. The temperature was still almost three degrees above freezing when the Christmas tree lighting took place.